This was not a positive or helpful experience for her as a child and young adult, and we cover exactly why from her perspective. Landmark comes from Est, which was taken directly from Scientology, so there's a lot of compare-and-contrast in this episode, too. Enjoy!

This was something I was wondering throughout my time in high school. What is the effect of the band Director on the band, and if the band is previously successful, would the teachings from previous band directors help carry on the band if the band director is not coaching the band as well? Many successful bands I have seen have been successful from their establishment. Also, for new band directors who are trying to change an old culture, how hard is that culture often to change? Is success usually the way to make cultures change in band?

So my band director, after our school year ended, emailed my parents and I, saying that he'd love to have a meeting about marching band next year. Of course I was super excited about this, and I thought that it was his way of telling me that he thought I would make a good drum major. (Spoiler alert: literally the exact opposite)

He started off the meeting by playing part of an episode of Young Sheldon, the one where Sheldon goes to high school when he's really young and corrects everyone on the rules. Then he was saying how this was how other people were perceiving me (I was assistant drum major last year), and that 6 people had come forward and mentioned that they didnt like something or other about how I was leading. Things like me being too strict at the wrong times or other things like that. I was heartbroken, as I have poured my heart, soul, and body into this band. I have POTS (a heart condition) and have still been pushing my body to its limit for band. I always show up 10 minutes early, and try to encourage everyone and be nice to everyone, but some people just seem to have a problem with me. I literally transferred school to be with this band because our school district was splitting and I wouldve been cut off from the program, so I couldn't really help but take it a bit personally.

When I was younger I had a lot of issues (I'm diagnosed ADHD, undiagnosed but suspected Autism), and would brag a lot or try to take things over, and nobody corrected me for a while, until maybe 7th grade? I would correct people on things I saw that I could fix, and some people hated me for that. I had been working on myself in therapy for years after that, and thought I was doing a great job as Assistant Drum Major, so it broke my heart to hear that people didn't like what I was doing. I am a huge people pleaser and always try my best to make everyone comfortable, often at the expense of myself, and as such had been literally straining my body to keep up with the demands of the band so that they would follow my example and not be lazy. I guess that didnt work because people were really upset with me by the end of the season, and I had no idea until my director mentioned it.

My director straight up told me that some people had issues with me, and that he wanted me to just be a person in the band, rather than Drum Major. He said that I was the most technically skilled at the drum major auditions last year, and that if it weren't for those people, I would've literally been drum major without a doubt. For reference, I am going into my Junior year of High School, and have done marching band since 6th grade. Hearing that I would've had the position if not for those few things was soul-crushing, and I started tearing up right then and there. I asked if there was any chance of me being Drum Major and he said yes, but that it just depends who tries out for it.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, he started holding leadership meetings with anyone who wanted to be section leader or drum major. I of course show up, hopeful that I could still be drum major. We worked on basic things, like conducting and commands, which everyone was seeming to struggle with except for me. (I dont mean this to sound egotistical, they were just less experienced and I already had most of the things down.)

Now about 2 weeks ago, he held auditions. We conducted, did commands, and had to write an essay as to why we think we should be leadership. I thought I did really well, and he told me that I did a great job, so I watched everyone else audition too and cheered them on as best as I could. I honestly believed for a while that I was going to get Drum Major, as everything had been going well with the Summer season (we didnt have a drum major for summer, rather our center Snare just did different roll offs and staff would instruct). Then the email came. It wasn't me, but my section leader from the previous year, who was also going into her Junior year. Of course I'm really happy for her, but my heart is crushed and I dont know what to do. I was appointed as woodwind captain, and I'm excited to work with them, but I'm so disheartened about not being drum major, as I spent most of the time between seasons thinking I for sure had the role.

A little while after he sent the email with the roles he said that if everything went well, I was his first pick for drum major next year (my Senior year). Thats extra heartbreaking, knowing that I had the position if not for those small little things that I could've corrected now that I knew what they were.

Sorry to ramble, (and I'm sure I repeated some things,) but I dont know what to do. If anyone has some advice, I'd really appreciate that.

For background information, I'm a sophomore this year and I skipped marching band freshman year. I did band my entire middle school career and was regarded as one of the best in percussion.

I'm joining back this year as a snare and I feel like I'm incredibly behind and lost. We got our first music of the summer about 5 days ago, and I just can't grasp the entire thing as fast as everyone else can. It already takes me 2x more effort than a normal person to learn complex skills, so that could be a factor. Maybe it's just because I took a year off, but I don't think I'm cut out for highschool band. It's a whole different level than I'm used and I'm already thinking of dropping it.

I had a sensory meltdown last practice and it has completely ruined my confidence. I adore the drums overall and I've been invited to be a drummer for a band, so those are really the only reasons I've been staying.

I just don't if I should continue to pursue this decision or drop it. Every practice feels like a humiliation ritual because I'm behind everyone but I want to continue practicing to a certain extent.

I'd love advice if anybody has any! I'm really torn and frustrated. I apologize if my wording is confusing at any points.

How both NPR and PBS lost opportunities to progress and change, and how they can gain them back by taking risks and working with communities.

I have tried to get every band director or someone from the marching and performing arts to read about or learn more about Alife Kohn and Arnold Jacobs, but they haven’t been receptive. This is all the proof I need to know that band directors who are taught to be militant, toxic, and cruel to students and only care about constant winning at all coast are cowards and monsters in the band room who are too afraid to confront their own ideology and change as human beings. People like Mr. Kohn and Jacobs are the challenge needed by all music teachers and students to know the true knowledge of why students and teachers suffer and struggle with authoritarian teaching methods by band directors, and what they can do to change these systems.

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A group of Michigan lawmakers is calling for “justice” and “accountability” for survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse connected to Interlochen Center for the Arts.

State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou says House Resolution 284 would create a committee to examine Interlochen and its relationship with Epstein.

Lawmakers say Epstein attended Interlochen in 1967 and returned in 1990, donating nearly half a million dollars. They say that money went toward a cabin named after him, and that Epstein stayed on campus two weeks a year for several years.

If parents want to change public schools, they need to be committed to helping teachers and students in public schools, not for their own selfish and foolish interests with homeschooling and unschooling. Public schools are worth saving because they are a public good for all people, and saving them means banning corporations and religious groups from influencing public school policies. Performing and Marching Arts should abolish Drum Corps International and Bands of America. Arts and Humanities need to be put back in schools. ABA Therapy and Bad SEL need to be tossed. Reform literacy and media studies to include comics, graphic novels, manga, and visual arts. Ditch standardized tests and Self-Help books and learn real history, civics, philosophy, logic, and science engagingly. Toxic competition needs to be abolished and replaced with student creativity, expression, community, education, and accomidation.

ABA Therapy, Self-Help, Temple Grandin, Centrisum, Creationisum, Greed, Toxic Competition, and letting parents overcontrol policy are how we got into this mess. I would never allow any parent of a special needs child to homeschool or unschool a child because those children need homerooms and teachers who are also special needs who respect student autonomy. I know because I was a homeschooled child, and looking back, I would not want that for any other child, regardless of who they are.

Parents and Teachers need class solidarity, not warfare.

So I decided to give band one last try in college!! I also got offered a contract with a local DCI corp!! Though I’m still debating whether I should take it. Part of me really wants to and I know if I don’t I might regret it for the rest of my life but a lot has happened in my life lately.

One of my uncles, who I was really close with, passed away recently, he was the one who funded my first couple of years of band and really supported me doing fine arts programs in general.

The solo I was supposed to perform at our spring concert was dedicated to him, even though nobody in my life actually knows he passed.

A week before of the concert, I asked my band director if I was still good to perform (because the date changed, nobody cared to tell me) he completely ghosted me and didn’t acknowledge the question at all, so I took it as a no. That lowkey hurt because I had everything ready, costume, music cut, choreography, all of it, but whatever, I’m not gonna fight to stay in a place where my presence is not appreciated.

On the brighter side, I talked with my college band director, and he seems really chill Tbh!! He doesn’t seem to have a problem with me wanting to explore both guard and percussion and actually encouraged it, which is crazy because my current BD would always shut it down with the whole “if I let you do it, I’d have to let everyone do it” argument (even though he ultimately did let everyone else do it)

I don’t want to get my hopes up too much, but maybe collegiate band will heal some of what high school band broke in me!! Thank you all for the advice and comments in the last post! :3

In this video, I share a deeply personal and important research paper I wrote in 2017 addressing the prevalence of depression and suicidality among students, and how music educators can better identify warning signs to provide crucial support. Drawing from my own experiences where practicing rudimental percussion and taking drum lessons literally saved my life, as making music served as a coping mechanism to work through severe depression. While my channel is widely known for offering free drumming lessons, drumming play-alongs, and comprehensive drumming tips, this presentation takes a step back from the physical instrument to focus on the emotional well-being of the human beings behind the kit. Through candid statistics and vignettes, I highlight the stark reality that over one in three teachers who responded to a survey knew at least one student who had completed suicide, yet many feel paralyzed to act. I explore how the high-pressure culture of music education can sometimes exacerbate mental health risks, but also how establishing a supportive, communicative environment can quite literally save lives. By understanding the risk factors, avoiding toxic instructional habits, and knowing how to connect students with mental health professionals, I believe music educators can have a profoundly positive impact. If you are struggling with the mental side of drumming, looking to prevent drumming burnout, or trying to learn how to stay motivated drumming through difficult times, please know that you are not alone; my channel offers hundreds of resources to help, but if you or someone you know is ever in crisis, please dial 988 in the United States to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Do college marching band students party a lot? Is there lots of alcohol consumption within the marching band parties?

My son will be going to college soon and I'm just wondering what the scene might be like.

Thanks

I'm in a college choir. I just turned 20.

My choir director started crying and threw a chair during our rehearsal. Not at anybody specifically, but she threw it. She's had some personal stuff going on and she said she is tired of us not working hard.

I know this sounds like a fake post but I promise it's real. I grew up in a violent house so I have no idea what's normal or not.